Biden on Libya Attack: ‘Bring To Justice Their Killers’

September 12, 2012

(DAYTON, Ohio) – Vice President Joe Biden started his speech at Wright State University on a somber note, addressing the attacks on the U.S. embassies in Egypt and Libya, and promising to bring the killers of the four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, to justice.

“Let me be clear, we are resolved to bring to justice their killers,” Biden said at Wright State University as a woman shouted “Amen!” “And we will work, we will work with the Libyan government and our other partners to do just that. There is no place in the civilized world for senseless murder like what occurred last night.”

Biden praised the work of foreign service officers, saying “it isn’t all about going to coffees and teas,” and paid tribute to those four Americans, including Amb. Chris Stevens, who he called a “fine, fine man” that died in the Libya attacks.

“Last night our nation lost four truly dedicated Americans. Courageous Americans. Courageous Americans. And the loss was accomplished as a consequence of an unwarranted attack on the diplomatic facility in Benghazi,” Biden said.

“These brave, and it’s not hyperbole to say brave, our ambassador was in Benghazi while the war was going on, our ambassador risked his life repeatedly while war in Libya to get rid of that dictator was going on. These men are as brave and as courageous as any of our warriors that we’ve sent. And ladies and gentlemen, their loss tragically reminds us again of the incredible price that not only our warriors pay in the service of this great country,” Biden said.

Without naming Mitt Romney by name in his speech, he made a jab at the president’s Republican opponent by stressing the importance of articulating one’s foreign policy positions to voters.

“The task of a president is not only to defend our interests in causes and the cause of freedom abroad. It is also to build a nation here at home to which the entire world can look and aspire to be like,” Biden said. “And whether we do that, and how we do that, that is literally the essence of the choice that we face in this presidential election. It really is that basic. And foreign policy is not some sidelight to all of this. And you deserve all of America deserve leaders who will tell you what they intend to do in both spheres.”